Process of and apparatus for the manufacture of gas



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

B. Lpolvns. PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS.

INVENTOR.

Patented May 28', 1889.

I .dttorney 2 SheetsSheet 2.

(No Model.)

B. LOOMIS.

PROGESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE 01 GAS.

Patented May 28; 1889..

mvxm h NXWW IJVVEJVTOR .dttorney' UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

BURDETT LOOMIS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 404,206, dated May 28,1889.

Application filed May 18, 1887- Serial No. 238,652. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, BURDETT LOOMIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMethods of and Apparatus for Manufacturing Heating or Fuel Gas; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same. i

This invention relates to the manufacture of a cheap fuel-gas havingsuperior heating qualities as compared with producer-gas, and which isparticularly adapted for manufacturing purposessuch as melting andworking metals, making glass and pottery ware, firing steam-boilers,&c., and for domestic heating and cooking purposes.

I manufacture gas from cheap fuel-such as bituminous coal or slackcoaland by my method convert the oily and tarry condensable vaporsordinarily given off from such coal in producers into fixednon-condensable gas, and my finished product contains alarge per cent.of combustible gases having a high calorific value, such as hydrogen,carbureted hydrogen, and carbonic oxide. I provide also for generatingwater-gas and conducting it off separately, either for any particularlyfine work or for carbureting to form illuminating-gas. I use a downblast or draft of air for heating the fuel, whereby it is kept clear ofash and clinker, the ashes being blown into the ash-pit, which is kepthot thereby and by the outgoing hot products, thus preventing thecondensation of steam when it is subsequently admitted through theash-pit to the fuel for decomposition. Highlyheated gases resulting fromdecomposed steam are passed off below the surface of the fuel, so as toavoid melting and caking freshly-charged coal on top, and also to causethe rich hydrocarbon vapors and gases evolved from such coal to passdown into the heated fuel below, and thus be converted into fixed gas. Iprovide for passing steam up or down through the fuel, according to thestate of the heat in different portions thereof. My generators are builtcomparatively narrow, butdeep from front to back and top to bottom, andare set adjacent to each other in pairs or in blocks of two to six oreight, or other larger number, as required. The producer-gas and thewater-gas made at the same time in different chambers or generators ofthe block are miked together in any desired proportions and conductedoff through the same take-off pipe.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents 'a front elevation ofthe generators, partly in section. Fig. 2 represents a verticaltransverse section through one of the chambers and through theoutlet-pipes for products of combustion and producer-gas. Fig. 3represents a vertical transverse section through one of the chambers andthe outletpipes for water-gas. Fig. 4. represents a horizontal sectionthrough the generators and a top view of the gas cooler and exhauster.

A represents the block of generators, composed of chambers B B B setadjacent to each other and separated by brick partitionwalls Y and ironplates y passing through the brick and riveted to the usual iron jacketsurrounding the brick walls of the generators. The generators are to beset upon piers to accommodate the gas-take-off pipes and valve-boxesarranged below. I however do not confine myself to this arrangement, asthe pipes may be connected at the fronts or backs of the generatorsabove the bases thereof.

The generating-chambers are provided with the usual grate-bars, Z7, andash-pits C, and have the fire and ash doors 0 0 arranged above and belowthe grate. They are also provided at the top with fuel-openings I),having tightfitting lids a. Passages p are formed in the tops of thechambers for the insertion of stoking or clinking bars, and thesepassages are closed by balls 4 or other suitable devices. Annularpassages or fiues D E F are formed in the brick walls, respectively nearthe top, near the middle, and near the bottom, below the grate of eachgenerator, and are provided with numerous short ports or tuyeres, d e f,opening into the chamber, and these fines and ports or tuyeres serve forthe admission of steam to, or for taking off the generated gas from,different portions of the fuel. A main steam-supply pipe, L, has abranch, L, with valve Z, leading into flue D, a branch, L, with valve Z,leading into flue E, and abranch, L

with valve 1, leading into flue F. An oilsupply pipe,N, having valve 01,connects with branch pipe 1/, leading into flue i or directl y with suchline. A gas-take-ott' pipe, G, for water-gas and carbureted. hydrogen,connects by a short branch having a valve-box and valve, g, with flue1), and extends down and connects, by means of a horizontal branch, G",with the main take-01f pipe 0. llranch G" has at its outer end aremovable lid, t, so that access may be had for cleaning the pipe, ifnecessary. Abranch pipe, G',having valve g, extends upward, forconducting oif water gas independent of pipe 0, which also receivesproducer-gas. Apipe, II, having valve 71,0011- neets with annular flueE, and a branch, II, having valve connects such pipe with pipe G. Thedownwardly-exteiuling pipe J and valve-box I, havin ball-valve 1:,connects with annular flue F and with pipe 0 by horizontal branch J,which, at its outer end, is closed with a lid, n. An escape-pipe, K, forproducts of combustion, having a closing-valve, 71:, at its top,connects by horizontal pipe K with valve-box I, and the outer end ofpipe K is provided with a removable lid, 0*. Valve-box I is providedatt-he bottom with a seat, so that by means of ball-valve i the openinof pipe J can be closed. \Vhen theiireis being repaired, valve 1' isclosed downward, valve 71) is opened, and the waste products are allowedto escape up pipe K. \Vhen it is desired to pass prod ucer-gas into pipe0, valve i is raised about half-way and suspended, when the gas willpass around it and on through pipes J J' into pipe 0.

At the top of the generating-ehamber, above the fuel-level, an annularflue, M, and ports or tuyeres m are formed in the walls, and with suchfine the air-supply pipe M, having controlling-valves o, is connected,so that air may be supplied to the top of the fuel for a down blast ordraft. The air maybe supplied by a blower, but is preferably drawn in byan exhauster, as P, or any of the wellknown kinds. Between the generatorand the exhauster a tubular cooler, R, is preferably interposed forcooling the gas, so that it will not injure the exhauster. \Yhile hotgas is passed through the tubes, air is circulated outside of them andheated and then tlows on through pipe M into the generator.

The operation is conducted as follows: The fires being kindled in thegenerators, the lids a and valves it: are closed, valve 1'. is raisedand suspeluled, and air is supplied through tlues M and tuyeres m till.the bodies of fuel are highly heated. Then the air is shut off from anydesired number of the generators, preferably alternate ones, where setsor blocks of four or more are used, and. steam is admitted to those fromwhich the air is shut oil; Before the admission of steam valve '11 isdropped upon its lower seat and valve 5 is opened. Then steam isadmitted through line 1 and tuyeresf', and is decomposed by passage upthrough the fuel and the resulting watergas (hydrogen and carbonicoxide) is passed off through tuyeres (I, line D, and pipe G. At the sametime that steam is decomposed rich hydrocarbon gas and vapors aredistilled from the upper fresh. layers of coal above line 1.) and causedto pass down into the heated fuel, where they are converted into fixedgasbefore escaping by way of tuyeres (Z and flue D. If the state of thefuel is right for decomposin steam between the grate-bars and flue E,then valve 9 may be closed and valve 71. opened and water-gas conductedby pipes H II into pipe G. In this case the gas and vapor evolved fromthe upper portion of coal is caused to pass down through. the heatedfuel to fine E, and thereby converted into fixed gas. Should the body offuel between tines D and E be so hot as to destructively decompose thegas and vapors evolved from the top layers of coal, at small supply ofsteam is admitted through line 1') and tuyeres (1 till the tei'nperature is properly reduced. In case the temperature of the fuel is reducedtoo low just above the grate and the heat is carried up too much byadmitting steam through flue and tuyeres F f, it is shut off therefrom,valve i is opened and valves g and h are closed, and steam is admittedto either through line and tuyeres '1) (Z or E e, or both, if desired,while gas passes off through pipe J. The heat is thus controlled andutilized to the best advantage in the different parts of the generator,and injury from a destruetivelyhigh heat is prevented. Steam is admittedto different portions of the generator till the fuel is reduced below aneffective deeompos in g temperature, when itis shut off, and valve ibeing open, thatis suspended above its seats, the air blast or draft isadmittedthrough line and tuyeres M m at the top, and. the resultingproducer-gas is passed off through tuyeres j", flue 1*, and pipe J tomain 0, Where it mingles with the hydrogen, carbureted hydrogen andcarbonic oxide being generated in the other chambers. Since the airblast or draft is downward through the fuel, the oily and tarry vaporsevolved from fresh bituminous coal on top are carried down into the hotfuel and converted into rich fixed gas, so that the leaving thegenerator contains no condensable matter and is of superior quality forheating purposes.

The mixture of water-gas and producer-gas made according to my processis much better for heatii purposes than either producer-gas or water-gasalone, as onlinarily manufactured, since the water-gas is too thin andlight to be consumed well at the burner and since the ordinaryproducer-gas has not the desired caloritic value and contains adetrimental percentage of non-eoml)ustible gas and impurities. Bypassingthe blast or draft of air downward the ashes are blown into the ash-pitand the surface of the fuel is kept clean, so that it will moreeffectively decompose steam. liy passing gas from. the ashpit throughthe small ports into flue l the dust and ashes are mostly retained inthe ashpit. A block of my generators is very simple to operate and canreadily be managed by, one man.

The manufacture of gas is so conducted that usually one-half of thegenerators are making water-gas and earbureted hydrogen, while theremainder are making producergas, and the two kinds of gas are mixed inthe main take-off pipe. Of course the proportion of generators makingwater-gas can be increased or deereasedat pleasure, and the quality ofmixed gas thus varied and controlled as required. I11 case an increasedyield of gas is required, the plant can readily be enlarged by buildingadditional generating-chambers upon either or both ends of the block andextending the gas and air mains and connections. \Vhen a generator isopen for any purposesuch as charging it with fresh fuel, removing ashes,or cleaning the firevalve 2' should be shut down and valve or cap itopened, so that smoke and dustmay escape up pipe K.

ly exhausting the gas and thus drawing in the air to the generatorsworkmen can much more conveniently open the top lids, a, to supply coalor use a bar for poking thefire,without annoyance of flame and smoke,and the interior of the generator can also be inspected through thesight or peep holes 00, to ascertain the heat and condition of the fuel,without smoke and flame being blown into the face of the operator, sincethe draft is inward.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s

1. Theprocess of manufacturing heating or fuel gas, which consists indecomposing steam in contact with a body of incandescent fuel,distilling bituminous coal by contact with such body of incandescentfuel, and conducting the resulting oily and tarry vapors downward intocontact with such incandescent fuel, thereby converting them into fixedcarbureted hydrogen gas, and at the same time generating producer-gas bythe admission of air to the ignited fuel in a separate chamber, andmingling the water-gas resulting from decomposed steam, the earburetedhydrogen from the distilled coa and the producer-gas in the same main.

2. The process of manufacturing gas, which consists in decomposing steamin contact with a body of incandescent fuel, thereby producing water-gasin one chamber and simultaneously generating producer-gas in a separatechamber by causing the air blast or draft to pass down throughbituminous coal and heated fuel, whereby oily and tarry vapors evolvedfrom the coal are carried into the heated fuel and converted into fixedcarbu- 5. The process of manufacturing gas, which separate chamber bycausing the air blast or draft to pass down through bituminous coal andheated fuel, whereby oily and tarry vapors evolved from the coal arecarried into the heated fuel and converted int-o fixed carburetedhydrogen, and finally mixing the water-gas and prod ucer-gas andearbureted hydrogen in a pipe or chamber beyond the generator.

l. In combination with two or more generating-chambers, the air-supplypipes connect in g with the tops thereof, outlet-pipes for producer-gasleading from the bottoms thereof, and outlet-pipes for water-gas leadingfrom the upper portions thereof, but below the level at which the chargeof fuel is maintained, whereby oily and tarry vapors evolved from thefresh coal supplied to the tops of the bodies of heated fuel are causedto pass down into contact with such heated fuel and thereby convertedinto fixed gas in both the producergas and the watergas,and whereby bothkinds of gas may be simultaneously generated and the manufacture of bothkinds be alternated in each chamber.

5. In combination with two or more gener-- ating-chambers, theair-supply pipes connecting with the tops thereof, outlet-pipes andvalves for producer-gas leading from the bottoms thereof, andoutlet-pipes'for water-gas leading from the upper portions thereof, butbelow the fuel level, and a main take-off pipe, both sets ofoutlet-pipes connecting with the said main take-off pipe, whereby oilyand tarry vapors evolved from the fresh coal supplied to the tops of thebodies of heated fuel are caused to pass down into contact with suchheated fuel, and thereby converted into fixed gas in both theproducer-gas and the water-gas, and. whereby both kinds of gas may besimultaneously generated and mixed in the same main for heatingpurposes.

6. In combination with a gas-generating chamber, the annular escape-flueF, located in the wall below the grate, and ports or tuyeres fileadingfrom the ash-chamber below the grate into such fiue, and the gas-outletpipe connecting with such flue, whereby dust and ashes are betterdeposited from the outgoing gas in the ash-chamber.

7. I11 combination with a gas-generating chamber, the fines D, E, and F,formed at different heights in the f urnace-wall and having ports ortuyeres d cf opening into the fuel-chamber and ash-chamber, andoutletpipes connecting with said fines for conducting off water-gas,coal-gas, and producer-gas and leading to the main take-off pipe,wherebygas distilled from the coal may be caused to pass down through theproper depth of hot fuel to fix the volatile vapor and be passed off atsuch height as to avoid destructive decomposition of such vapors byexcessive heat, according to the temperature of the body of fuel and thedepth thereof in the generatingchamber.

8. In combination with a gas-generating chamber having an air-supply atthe top, the gas-ontlet-val've box 1, connecting with its base, pipes JJ, connecting the valve-box with main 0, ball-valve i, arranged in thevalve box to close pipe J, and eseape-pipeK K, eonneeting with the valvebox and having a valve or cap at its top, for the purpose described.

